Policy Units

After PrepCom1, which took place in September 2014, from October to December 2014, the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee proposed the Habitat III Thematic Framework with six thematic areas, 22 Issue Papers and ten Policy Units. All the Policy Units identified challenges, policy priorities, and critical issues as well as developed action-oriented recommendations for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. A formal handover of the Policy Papers to the Secretary-General of the Conference and the Bureau of the Habitat III Preparatory Committee took place during the Habitat III Europe Regional Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, on Friday, 17 March 2016.

The Habitat III Policy Units were formed to identify policy priorities, critical issues, and challenges, including structural and policy constraints, that would serve as inputs to the New Urban Agenda. They were also tasked with developing action-oriented recommendations for its implementation.

Each Policy Unit was led by two organizations and composed of a maximum of 20 experts with different and cross cutting expertise, each of which were nominated by Member States and stakeholders from all regions. The experts were drawn from various constituent groups and backgrounds, and their selection was guided by geographical and gender balance considerations, as well as qualitative criteria regarding expertise and experience in each relevant policy area.

The Habitat III Policy Papers are the final outcome of the Habitat III Policy Units’ work. The Papers served as official inputs in the Habitat III process and were a key part of the formulation of the zero draft of the New Urban Agenda. They are also part of the Habitat III legacy and a valuable resource of information and knowledge that various urban actors may find useful in their work on housing and sustainable urban development.

The exercise carried out with Policy Units and Policy Papers sets a pioneering precedent for future United Nations intergovernmental processes to not only be informed by but based on independent expert knowledge.

Tasks

Identify the challenges, including the structural and policy constraints, to the New Urban Agenda within the issues discussed by each policy unit;

Identify the policy priorities and critical issues for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda within the issues discussed by each policy unit;

Develop action-oriented recommendations for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Each Policy Unit presented a report to the Secretary-General ot the Conference and the Bureau of the Prepatory Committee. The Policy Units were tasked with conducting their work on the basis of rigorous analysis of credible shared evidence, as well as engaging and consulting widely with relevant constituencies at the national, regional, and global levels.

Composition

Policy Units were composed of a maximum of 20 experts each, bringing together individual experts from a variety of fields that included academia, government, civil society, and other regional and international bodies. Panelists were members in their personal capacity; however, a wide variety of profiles were selected to ensure representation of all major groups. The United Nations system was also represented.

Members of Policy Units were appointed by the Secretary-General of the Conference in close consultation with the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee.

Lead organizations of the Policy Units

The Policy Units were led by two international organizations responsible for coordinating and presenting the final outcome of the expert group to the Secretary-General of the Conference.